TRAVEL TIPS
There are a number of important phone numbers in Australia that you may wish to keep in case of an emergency. The most important is for emergency services. In Australia, the emergency services number is 000. If you require police, ambulance or fire services, you can call this number for free from any phone (land line, mobile/cell or public) any time. There are severe penalties for misuse of this service.
Australia is a big country and a common way to get from place to place is to drive. If you want to drive in Australia, you should ensure that you are legally allowed to drive. Make sure you have an International Driver's License, obey speed limits, and obey Australia's road rules (which may be different to your own).
Be aware of what you can and can't bring into Australia. Australian Customs enforce their laws very strictly. Make sure you declare any items that are on the Customs arrival/departure cards that you fill in when you enter or leave the country.
AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL TIPS
Driving In AustraliaWednesday, 17 December 2008 Australia is a big country and a common way to get from place to place is to drive. If you want to drive in Australia, you should ensure that you are legally allowed to drive. Make sure you have an International Driver's License, obey speed limits, and obey Australia's road rules (which may be different to your own). Australians drive on the left hand side of the road. If you are not sure if your drivers license will be accepted in Australia, obtain an International Licence from your local automobile association prior to your departure. Road speed limits differ between states but are generally 100-110kph on the highways and 50-60kph in built-up areas. Interstate highways are not of the same standard as USA and European highway systems but nor do they carry the same traffic volumes. Australia is not heavily populated, and so driving on major highways presents a number of issues that you need to be aware of: Fatigue is a common cause of fatal crashes in Australia. With the great distances between cities (approx 1000km between Sydney and Melbourne), drivers need to take regular rest breaks to avoid serious injury or death. Highways in Australia often wind through very beautiful scenery, home to many native animals. Australian native animals such as kangaroos, Wombats, and Koalas, can often wander onto roads, especially at night. Drivers need to be alert and watch for animals on the roads When travelling on more remote highways, such as in Northern Territory or Western Australia, it is recommended that you let someone know where you are going and when you expect to arrive there. If you do have an accident, or your car breaks down, someone will know you are missing, and have a good idea of where you are. Don't hitch-hike, it is illegal. This is for your safety as well as the safety of drivers Australia gets extremely hot at times, and it is important to never leave small children or animals locked in vehicles, as they can become dehydrated, lose consciousness, or even die in a very short time. |
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